Conduit for underground telegraph-wires



(No Model.)

' E. O. HILDEBRAND.

OONDUIT FOR UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH WIRES.

No. 297,397. Patented Apr. 22,1884,

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EMIL O. HILDEBRAND,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONDUIT FOFl UNDERGROUND TELEGRAPH WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,397, dated April22, 1884.

Application filed December 6, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMIL O. HILDEBRAND, a subject of the Emperor ofRussia, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oflllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduitsfor Underground Telegraph-Tires, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, that will enable others to understand anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in conduits for undergroundlines; and it consists of certain novel features in the construction andarrangement, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

7 Figure 1 is a top or plan view; Fig.2, a

vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section;Fig. 4, an end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a trough-shaped conduit, inwhich the wires or electric conductors are strung. This conduit iscomposed of baked earthenware, and is provided with the removable top orcover a. The rounded bottom at, extending down some distance below thelowest row or series of wires, provides a channel for carrying off thewater that may find its way into the conduit, and thus prevents the samefrom interfering with the working of the wires. This trough-likecompartment or passage underneath the wires also provides a necessaryair-space for the purpose of maintaining a circulation and replacing thedamp air by a dry atmosphere. The conduit will be made up of joints orsections in such lengths as may conveniently facilitate the handling ofthe same, the joining ends being made to overlap, and then cementedtogether to form a tight joint and a continuous line. The removablecover is made to project down a little in the inside of the upper partof the conduit, and is provided with the flanges a a which project overand rest upon the edges of the conduit, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. By this arrangement a closefitting shoulder-joint is given tothese parts,

and a lateral movement or displacement of the cover is prevented andconvenient access (No model.)

given to the interior of the conduit. It is not necessary that theconduit through which the wires pass should be placed at any great depthin the ground, but just far enough be low the surface of the earth toinsure safety. The upper cross-bars, I), serve as arest to support theweight of the cover a, and, in connection with the lower companioncross-bars, b, assist in strengthening-the side walls of the structureand rendering the same less liable to being injured by heavy rainswashing away the surrounding earth. The perpendicular side walls of theconduit are provided with the grooves or recesses I)", placed at regularintervals, for the reception of the glass diaphragms B, which areadapted to slide into place from the top and remain in a verticalposition. These diaphragms are provided with a number of perforations,I), through which the wires pass, the same being just large enough forthe passage of the wires. They should be of sufficient thickness toimpart the desired strength, and may be placed at such a distance apartas practical working may require.

The plate 0 is provided with the arms d d, and represents alightning-arrester, and may be composed of brass or other suitableconductive material. This plate is placed transversely in the conduit,as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and is provided with theperforations D, corresponding to the perforations in the glassdiaphragms. The perforations in the plate G are, however, of a greaterarea than the openings in the diaphragms, in order to prevent the wirespassing through from having contact with said plate and becominggrounded. The plates will be placed in the conduit at such points as thedifferent oflices may be located, and the wires will enter the groundfrom poles or other supports, thus effectually preventing interruptionsfrom atmospheric changes, as the lightning will enter the ground fromthe nearest point. By this arrangement there is no possibility of theconnections may be conveniently made at any point.

Having thus described my lnvention, what wires becoming crossed orgrounded, and new I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1combination, with the conduit A, of the Patent, ismetallic plate G,provided with the arms d d,

1. A conduit for underground telegraphand having numerous perforationsfor the pas- Wires, provided with a removable cover, and sage of theelectric Wires, substantiallyas and having the rounded bottom part, a,forming for the purpose set forth.

biuation with the removable perforated diaphragms B and the cross-bars bb, substantially as and for the purpose described.

IO 2. In a conduit for underground wires, the

\Vituesses:

V. STAN\VOOD, L. M. FREEMAN.

l a chamber or passage under the Wires, in com- EMIL O HILDEBRAND.

